Local News

11:59 pm

Wed January 14, 2015

The federal government said about 16 thousand Alaskans have signed up for health insurance on healthcare.gov since open enrollment period began Nov. 15. That's about 3,000 more than signed up during the initial 6-month open enrollment period, and half of them are renewals.

Local News

8:17 pm

Tue January 13, 2015

As the price of oil continues its downward slide, the Energy Department is predicting oil prices of $58 per barrel in 2015, and $75 per barrel in 2016. It’s also predicting U.S. shale production will begin to tail off in the second half of 2015. The forecast was part of a monthly outlook released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The head of the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Commissioner Pat Kemp, stepped down yesterday. Governor Bill Walker’s spokesperson Grace Jang says Walker accepted Kemp’s resignation because in a memo to the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Kemp expressed views contrary to the Governor’s philosophy and decisions.

Local News

9:41 pm

Sun January 11, 2015

Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program director said gift will change Alaska

In 2013, the National Governors Association issued a report saying U.S. productivity, economic growth, and innovation are limited by a shortage of workers trained in science, engineering, technology, and math, or STEM. But a recent million-dollar donation may change Alaska’s outlook for STEM workers.

Local News

9:23 pm

Thu January 8, 2015

Gov. Bill Walker is taking issue with how the existing oil production tax works at low oil prices. The price of oil has dropped in recent months from more than a hundred dollars a barrel to fifty a barrel. Producers can also apply for tax credits meant to boost production. Last year the state took in five billion dollars in oil revenues, with half of that from oil production taxes. This year it will take in two billion dollars from other forms of oil revenues.